Chapter 4, Chapter Four: Old Ten's Lazy New Year

As in previous years, the last month of the twenty-second year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign was spent in numerous palace banquets. Although it was the dead of winter, the entire palace was bustling with activity as the New Year approached.

Emperor Kangxi was twenty-nine years old this year, a time when he was full of vigor and ambition.

Last year he quelled the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories, and this year he repelled Russia and recovered Taiwan. Such great achievements and accomplishments naturally deserve to be boasted about.

The festive atmosphere in the palace this year was particularly lively, with the decorations throughout the palace being exceptionally grand and luxurious.

The palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and longevity lanterns were set up on both sides of the steps of the Qianqing Palace. Every night when the lanterns were lit, they illuminated the longevity couplets embroidered with gold thread behind them, which were truly dazzling and splendid, creating a strong festive atmosphere for the New Year.

Starting from the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, Emperor Kangxi held a grand banquet for his officials in the Qianqing Palace. He invited not only members of the imperial family and nobles, but also Mongolian princes and foreign envoys to celebrate the New Year with them. The emperor and his officials enjoyed themselves together, showcasing the prosperity of the country.

The palace held a series of lavish and grand New Year banquets, and with these banquets, the palace was bustling with activity, and the whole palace was immersed in the New Year atmosphere.

However, this lively event had nothing to do with Yin'e. Whether it was the New Year's Eve banquet held in the Qianqing Palace on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, the grand banquet held in the Baohe Hall at noon on New Year's Day, or the family reunion banquet after the New Year's Day court ceremony, Yin'e was not able to attend any of them.

Although according to palace rules, all imperial concubines, princes, grandsons, and nobles were required to attend the grand banquet on New Year's Day, this rule obviously did not apply to Yin'e, who was only two months old. He was too young to attend the New Year's banquet in the 22nd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.

Moreover, the winters in the capital are bitterly cold, with howling north winds and swirling snowflakes. Going outside means being chilled to the bone. The Imperial Concubine protects Yin'e like the apple of her eye; she won't even let him leave the warm chambers, let alone take him to the Qianqing Palace for a banquet, fearing he'll catch a cold outside.

On New Year's Eve, in the warm chamber where the charcoal fire burned brightly, Yin'e, who was not too sleepy after eating, stretched out his little hands, creating a gap in the tightly wrapped swaddling clothes.

The charcoal fire in the warm room was burning so brightly that Yin'e not only didn't feel cold, but even felt a little hot, and just wanted a cool breeze to dispel the stuffiness in the room.

Currently, only Yin'e is in Yongshou Palace. The Imperial Concubine is not there; she has gone to Qianqing Palace to attend the New Year's Eve banquet. Yin'e is too young to attend the banquet and does not need to go out in the dead of winter, but the Imperial Concubine must attend the New Year's banquet.

For Yin'e's sake, the Imperial Concubine specially brought only Green Willow to the banquet, leaving Orchid and Radiance behind.

Lan Zhi was steady, calm, cautious and meticulous. When the Consort went out temporarily, she entrusted Yin E's safety to Lan Zhi.

The little body struggled to move in the swaddling clothes. Yin'e kicked his feet, trying to widen the tiny gap between his little hands.

Lan Zhi immediately noticed Yin E's little trick. She stepped forward and tucked Yin E into the swaddling clothes, then instructed a maid to open a crack in the window of the warm pavilion to let in some air. At the same time, she carefully lowered the gauze curtain covering the cradle, allowing air into the room while also making sure Yin E didn't catch a cold from the draft.

The fresh air that rushed in through the cracks in the window dispelled the slightly stuffy heat in the warm pavilion, clearing away the stale air. Yin'e felt much better and couldn't help but grin, blowing a bubble at Lan Zhi to express his gratitude.

Lan Zhi lowered her body and put her head into the cradle. After meeting Yin E's big, bright eyes, which were like black pearls, a gentle and handsome smile bloomed on her face.

Seeing that Yin'e was wide awake, lively and full of energy, with his big, bright black eyes wide open and full of vitality, Lan Zhi smiled, picked up a bright red, exquisitely crafted rattle drum and shook it gently, producing a clear and melodious sound to attract Yin'e's attention.

Yin'e remained silent for a while, staring at Lan Zhi shaking the rattle drum with his large, dark eyes. He really didn't want to play such a childish game with her. He wasn't a real baby and wasn't interested in things that only little kids liked!

The crisp, resounding drumbeats continued uninterrupted. Seeing Lan Zhi's unwavering persistence, Yin E sighed, helplessly yet indulgently cooperating with her.

Fine, I'll just reluctantly play with Lanzhi for a bit... Anyway, I can't sleep right now and I have nothing to do, so I can't really suck my thumb like a two-month-old baby, can I?

Playing with a rattle drum is much cleaner and more refined than sucking your fingers.

Lan Zhi paused in her movements, a subtle feeling stirring within her. She sensed a hint of disdain and contempt in the way the young prince looked at the rattle drum.

While "playing" with the rattle drum without much engagement, Yin'e's mood was somewhat complicated: to be honest, he felt quite pitiful. On New Year's Eve, Emperor Kangxi was hosting a banquet for his officials in the Qianqing Palace, celebrating the New Year with a large group of people, while he could only play with the childish rattle drum here. He felt inexplicably cheated!

Moreover, Yin'e was indeed quite regretful that his first New Year after being reborn was spent like this. Not only did the festive atmosphere of the New Year have nothing to do with him, but the Imperial Concubine was not even by his side, and he did not spend his first New Year with her.

Well, it can't be said that the New Year had nothing to do with Yin'e; at least he received many New Year's gifts. The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and Emperor Kangxi all bestowed many things upon him, which quickly made Yin'e's private treasury quite full.

A baby's energy is no match for an adult's. Yin'e, who was hoping to wait for the Imperial Concubine to return, was not able to keep up for more than an hour before he started to feel sleepy.

Overcome with sleepiness, Yin'e yawned, his eyes welling up with a thin mist of physiological tears, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier and drooping incessantly. After a while, he finally succumbed to his instincts and closed his eyes.

As soon as Yin'e yawned for the first time, Lan Zhi put down the rattle drum in her hand. Without asking the maid to help, she sat down beside him and gently rocked the cradle, humming a soft lullaby to lull Yin'e to sleep.

The palace banquet on New Year's Eve lasted until late at night. By the time Consort Gui returned to Yongshou Palace with Green Willow, Yin'e was already fast asleep in his cradle.

Upon returning to Yongshou Palace, the Imperial Concubine entered her inner chamber, removed her elaborate and heavy auspicious robes, and, with the help of palace maids such as Lüyi, quickly washed and dressed herself. She then changed into a nearly new lotus-colored cheongsam, warmed herself in front of an incense burner before stepping into the warm pavilion.

Lan Zhi stepped forward and curtsied to the Imperial Concubine.

She knew what the Imperial Concubine was most concerned about, and before the Imperial Concubine could ask, she whispered, "The young prince is doing well."

Lan Zhi followed half a step behind the Imperial Concubine. When the Imperial Concubine went to the cradle to visit Yin'e, Lan Zhi said with a smile, "The little prince misses His Majesty very much. When he was awake, he kept looking around, looking for His Majesty. He was very disappointed when His Majesty did not return all night."

A soft warmth welled up in the concubine's eyes, and the corners of her lips involuntarily turned up.

She bent down and looked at Yin'e sleeping soundly in the cradle. Seeing his chubby, rosy face, sleeping like a little pig, the Consort's lips curled up even more, and she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Pinching Yin'e's soft cheek, the Consort Gui chuckled mischievously: "You didn't miss me at all. I only saw a little piglet sleeping soundly."